The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-07-30
CAN WOMEN RIVAL MEN?


stand by the statement that women
could. by training and change Of social
custom, rival men. l arm ready TO adj
nit that a race of women could be
trained by whom-leaving out the fac
ultv of Invention in mechanical CON-
struction, about which there may be
some rcscrvation-all the labors OF men
could DO performed. But 1 admit "a
fully that for such an end to be attained
certain modification would be necessary
which all persons might not enjoy nor
feel inclined to patronixe. 1T is only
fair 10 point out, without bias. what
these notifications would introduce in
to the civilized human family. The
first necessary modification would have
relation to dress A petticoated genera
ton could never do the full work OF a
generation whose limbs were free Of
petticoat incumbrance. The practice
on the stage tells us that. In long pet
ticoats women could neither climb,
race, drive engines, walk. ride. work at
the bench, nor work mt the lecture
table, the school, or the laboratory,
with the facility of men US men are at.
tired. Whatever, therefore, there Is OF
elegance in the present form OF female
attire, that must be sacrificed to the
necessities Of competition with men in
the work common 70 men. 1t may DC
that there is not much to be said
against this change. 1t may be argued.
even oy women. that the pulling along
of pounds weight Of clothes which lie
on the ground and require. for COM
fort, a page or waiting-maid to carry
them, is q tax of the worst kind on
human endurance; 10 women q plague,
to men a joke. 1t may be that the
modern wOman's absurd fashionable
dress, which turns her into a SEMI
erect dromedary, is not all that could
be desired; but for her to play her part
Is tho rival of man in work she must
change dress altogether. and DC left rs
free OF limb AS men. II she is not to be
so far emancipated. then she bids fair
TO remain as She has been all along the
course of time, n woman; human be-
ing, by the common consent OF man.
kind in relation to dress, restrained by
dress; woman proud of her grand
robes. content to bear the weight OF
them. content TO tolerate the incOn-
yenience of them. and content to suffer
herself to be admired under all such
unnecessary pains and penalties. 10
MANY women 1t would DC great
sacrifice to give up these outward and
visible signs of women's dignity and
women's destiny. for dignity and destiny
in her case combine. The dress she
wears under the regime of woman. the
mother OF men and women. is the sign
of the destiny which holds her from the
active work of men, and which affords
her the opportunity for bedecking her
self, SO as TO fulfill her destiny with cle'
gance and fascination. But at work in
creation to compete with men the How
ing and embarrassing dress must go;
the milliner must seek new trade; the
books of fashion must be consigned to
the fashion OF books; they must be
placed on the shelf, and ingenuity OF a
new order must invent new style oil
picturesque female clothing adapted to
the new kind of life. If women arc to
spend their lives in occupations com
monty followed by men they and the
world must submit to another moditica'
ton. They must compromise also in
the matter of what is called personal
beauty. DR.. Richardson, m Long
mans Magazine.